Lead clutch for pencils



May 4, 1943. H. MAUCHER LEAD CLUTCH FOR PENCILS INVENTOR Filed June 17, 1941 w M c o m Y M H u a Patented May 4, 1943 waste UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEAD CLUTCH FOR PENCILS Hans Maucher, New York, Y., assignor to Norma Multikolor, Inc., New York, N. Y.,a corporation of New York Application June 17, 1941, Serial No. 398,364

(Cl. littl -14) 8 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved means for facilitating the introduction of lead in pencils, and especially those types which require the lead to be inserted inwardly from the tip or writing end of the pencil.

With the usual run of this character of pencil, considerable difiiculty is encountered in replenishi'ng the lead without breakage thereofdue primarily to the facts, firstly, that the lead or crayon is of an extremely fragile nature, and secondly, that the internal diameter of the forward end of the pencil casing or body is barely large enough to initially admit the lead, even though maximum care is exercised.

It is also of importance, once the lead-more especially the round typeis inserted home and while thereafter being consumed in writing, that it should not turn or slip at right angles to its longitudinal axis as to invariably present a flattened or Worn distal end at the point of writing.

I have achieved advantageous results by devising a novel clutch mechanism in which the internal bore of the tip is slightly larger than the diameter of the lead to freely receive, sustain and guide the lead as it is gradually fed into another member which is removed inwardly from the tip, and which grips the lead firmly and thereafter serves as its master control. a

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a lead carrier,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the body of the carrier, and

Fig. 3 is a long, sectional view of the lower extremity of the carrier taken along lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 and illustrating a lead in position.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the lead carrier 5 comprises a tubular body 6 and a constricted rear portion 1. Conjunctively with the body, I employ a lead guide 8likewise tubularand having a tapered tip 9 with its internal diameter l slightly exceeding the diameter of lead II, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. In practice the internal diameter of the tip is approximately /1000 of an inch, while the diameter of the lead measures approximately /1000 of an inch.

Guide 8 encloses a tubular clutch element l2 to which it is swaged at l3 so that the sleeve and element will move as a unit. The forward end of element [2 is removed inwardly from the tip 9 and has one relatively abbreviated bore [4 which is somewhat less than the diameter of lead I I, say about 44 to 45/1000ths of an inch, and an elongated bore lvirtually a continuation of bore l4with an internal diameter which coincides with that of the tip, approximately /1000 of an inch. Moreover, the outer extremity of element I2 is slit longitudinally upon diametrically opposite sides, as at It, to provide for yieldably engaging the lead as will be presently explained.

Important points in connection with the set-up just described, are (1), that the clutch extremity of element I2 is wholly spaced from the adjacent inner walls. of leadguide 8, whether it is in active position clutching lead H, as shown in Fig. 3, or

it is in inactive position-not clutching the leadas seen in Fig. 2; and (2), that the clutch proper is disposed inwardly from the tapered tip 9 free of any constricting influences. This permits of ample freedom of movement of the clutch withthe propeller [9 in itsj retracted position, lead l'l 'is'inserted freely within bore [0 of tip 9 until it-encounters the restricted bore Moi the clutch in the throat of'the; tip. Here while the lead is. embraced circumferentially by the "inner walls o f the tip, a bit more pressure is exerted upon the lead causing itto expand bore it, as

exhibited inFig. 3. Continued pressure is applied until the inner terminal of the lead engages the confronting terminal of propeller l9. Thereafter, by turning the tip clockwise the lead is expelled as desired. Breakage of the lead, during the act of introducing it into the carrier or pencil is thereby reduced to a minimum. Then, too, owing to the firmness with which the lead is at all times gripped by the clutch it is eliectively safeguarded from slippage.

While not shown in the drawing, it is readily conceivable that the tip and clutch members may, if preferred, be constructed of one, instead of two pieces of metal or equivalent material.

I claim:

1. A pencil of the type in which lead is insertable into the writing end, characterized by an axially chambered body, a tubular lead guide, a tubular clutch element telescoped within the guide having a reduced internal diameter at its forward end and a slightly greater internal diameter for the major portion of the remainder of its extent, the guide and clutch being rotatably mounted with respect to the body and the in ternal diameter of the guide at its outer end equalling the greater internal diameter of the clutch element, the rear terminal of the clutch being threaded, and a screw propeller engageable with the threaded terminal and operable upon rotation of the guide to advance the lead.

2. A pencil of the type in which lead is insertable into the writing end, characterized by an axially chambered body, a hollow lead guide, a clutch telescoped within the guide having a reduced internal diameter at its forward end and a slightly greater internal diameter for the major portion of the remainder of its extent, the guide and clutch being rotatably mounted with respect to the body, and the internal diameters of the tip of the guide and of said remaining extent of the clutch being the same, said clutch having an internal diameterless than said first mentioned diameters, the rear terminal of the clutch being threaded, and a screw propeller engageable with the threaded terminal and operable upon rotation of the guide to advance the lead.

3. A pencil of the type in which the lead is insertable into the writing end, characterized by an axially chambered body, a lead guide having the same internal diameter as the body, a tubular clutch element rigidly mounted Within the guide and swivelled at its inner end to said body, the rear terminal of the clutch being threaded, and a screw propeller engageable with the threaded terminal and operable upon rotation of the guide to advance the lead.

4. A pencil of the type in which the lead is insertable into the writing end, characterized by an axially chambered body, a tubular lead guide, a tubular clutch element rigidly mounted Within the guide and having a reduced internal diameter at its forward end and a slightly greater internal diameter for the major portion of the remainder of its extent, the clutch being further swivelled at its inner end to said body, and the internal diameter of the tip of the guide equalling the greater internal diameter of the clutch, the rear terminal of the clutch being threaded, and a screw propeller engageable with the threaded terminal and operable upon rotation of the guide,

from the adjacent walls of the guide in active and inactive positions, the clutch further being rotatably connected to the body, the rear terminal of the clutch being threaded, and a screw propeller engageable with the threaded terminal and operable upon rotation of the guide to advance the lead.

6. A pencil of the type in which the lead is insertable into the writing end, characterized by an axially chambered body, a tubular lead guide provided with a tapered tip, a tubular element rigidly mounted within the guide and having its outer extremity fashioned into a clutch, said clutch being disposed rearwardly of the tip and being wholly spaced from the adjacent walls of the guide, the clutch further being rotatably connected to the body, the rear terminal of the clutch being threaded, and a screw propeller engageable with the threaded terminal and oper-.

able upon rotation of the guide to advance the lead.

7. A pencil of the type in which the lead is insertable into the writing end, characterized by an axially chambered body, a tubular lead guide provided with a tapered tip, a tubular element rigidly mounted within the guide and having its outer extremity fashioned into a clutch, said clutch being disposed rearwardly of the tip and being wholly spaced from the adjacent walls of the guide, the clutch further being rotatably connected to the body, the rear terminal of the clutch being threaded, and a screw propeller engageable with the threaded terminal and operable upon rotation of the guide to advance the lead.

8. A pencil of the type in which the lead is insertable into the writing end, characterized by an axially chambered body, a tubular lead guide provided with a tapered tip, a tubular element rigidly mounted within the guide and having a reduced internal diameter at its forward end and a slightly greater internal diameter for the remainder of its extent, said forward end being fashioned into a clutch which is wholly spaced from the adjacent walls of the guide and disposed rearwardly of the tip, the guide and tubular element being rotatably mounted with respect HANS MAUC-HERQ 

